> From: krobinson@primavera.com
> Message-Id: <9506058049.AA804960480@ld0294.primavera.com>
> To: jeh@world.std.com, vintage-race@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: NHIS Vintage race report
>
> Who was driving the white XK140 coupe in the 3rd (I think it was the
> 3rd) group of sports cars out on Sunday? That was some spectacular
> driving. It was a thrill watching that big car drift through the
> corners, and, judging from the oohs and aahhs around me, the other
> spectators thought so too. It was also pretty exciting watching him
> hold off the D type; for a lap or so.
That's Tivvy Shinton, who runs a restoration/race shop in Vt. Wild man! very
fast and even my wife enjoys watching his antics!
>
> I'm curious, not being a vintage racer myself, is slipping and sliding
> your car around going beyond the limits set for vintage racing? Is it
> all right to push your car (and yourself) as long as it doesn't
> endanger anyone else or do you drive at 8/10 or 9/10 no matter what.
> What sort of driving antics will get you a black flag?
>
As long as you stay on the track and don't have car-car contact or run
anyone off the road, you are generally accepted. Remember that we're using
very old technology skinny tires. Tivvy's Dunlops are out of the same molds
as originals, using newer compounds that are sticker. But they are bias ply
tires that are very happy at 10 degree slip angles. Makes for spectacular
racing.
On my yellow Alfa Spider (#31, fourth at NHIS in the same race) I run BFG
Comp TA R1s which are less tolerant of big slip angles, so you have to be a
bit less spectacular. Less margin for error also. On the entry and exit to
the oval however, I powerslide the car to get through the tight turns.
Tight racing is not disocuraged-everybody likes a goos show. If you watched
the final race, you probablly saw Tony Wang in the Maserati 300S and I going
at it for several laps (a replay of the morning race) and then I did the
same with the white Dellow. THat's what makes racing fun - really tight
battles where you chase the car for several laps before finding and taking
advantage of their weakness. Then afterwards in the pits, you congratulate
each other on a great race and laugh about how much fun it was. That's what
vintage racing is all about - sportsmanship - we all like to be ahead at the
checker, but the battle is all the fun.
Jim Hayes 1-800-537-8254, 1-617-241-7810, Fax: 1-617-241-8616
Alfa NUT: '58 and '62 Alfa Spider vintage racecars
Jim Hayes fotec,inc.
jeh@fotec.com 529 main st.
541-0037@MCImail.com boston,ma 02129
phone: 1-800-537-8254 (US & Canada) 1-617-241-7810 (worldwide)
fax: 1-617-241-8616
|